“We were raised out there by U of L and it was called the bottoms. It was an all black area. That’s where we was raised up at and then U of L started buying up all the property. We ended up moving to the West End when I was 12. It was different because it was a bigger area but we got to meet a bunch of different people. We were the second black family on Dearborn Ave.

I remember the riots. One of our friends was killed and it was a racial thing. It was really supposed to be a gathering, like a rally, but it ended up being more. The riot caused them to close down all of 28th Street. My job was on 28th and Greenwood and we had to shut it down.

My advice to world? Trust and believe in God.” - Margie, Shawnee

“The happiest moment of my life is when I had my baby. Before her, I was anti-social and I didn’t want to get out of the house. Now, I’m more motivated to get out and do things. 

My mama is my biggest influence. She struggled a lot and as we got older, she became more stable and she pushes us to do better. She taught me to never give up, regardless of how hard it gets because things always get better. Right now, I’m trying to overcome financial problems because you gotta pay for everything in life. I just have to remember that things always get better, at the end of the day. You will always have another day to make it better. 

The West needs more things for the kids. We got a few parks but there’s nothing else. We gotta keep them occupied. There’s nothing to do, so that’s why they’re out here doing what they’re doing, now.” - Audreanna, Chickasaw

"The key to happiness in a relationship is forgiveness. It takes each other to make each other happy. But you have to be happy by yourself. People go out and look for happiness but happiness is within you. She makes me happy. Today's my birthday and I ain't got no money but I got them. I had my daughter on Father's Day. I didn't think that I could have kids because we were trying for six years. She just popped up. 

Love one another. Learn to love. It's too much going on out here, bruh. I just turned 26 and I was wild. I had all the guns and all that but at the end of the day, I'm 26 and I don't have any friends. If I would have loved a little more, I would have more people to love me. Share love, that's the key!" - Coby pictured with Shawnna, California

"The West End needs more jobs for young black people. It'll keep them out of trouble. We need to make them go to school. I'm retired from the Navy, I draw my pension. I just get out here on Tuesdays and get my cans because I know they throw them out." - John, Russell

"She's four months and it's been hard because I'm in recovery, too. So, it's like, I came from a tent from the side of the street. Now, I have an apartment, a car, and I have my kid. I'm getting ready to go put her in daycare, so I can go back to work. I'm getting there. It's just taking time, it's been difficult; it really has, it's been hard. The streets ain't nothing to play with. People are dying everyday and we done lost everybody we know and loved. I gotta kid to look after, now.

All you can do is thank God for everyday that you're given. I pray all day and everyday. I still get stuck sometimes and want to go back to the streets but then I get to thinking about how these people, out here, don't love me. They don't care if I got my kid or not. They don't care who has her. They don't care if I'm alive. It's crazy out here, I hate it. That's why when I'm walking down the street, I keep my headphones in. I know everybody, so I try to keep my distance from the people I used to associate with. So, I be trying to get other people that I know into recovery but they don't want anything to do with it. It's a struggle. 

I learned a lot of shit from being in recovery. My biggest thing is knowing that I ain't gotta live like that anymore. I give it all to God, now. He's got me, he's with me and he's gonna take care of me. If I just stay on the right road and take care of this little girl, I'll be straight. I ain't gotta sleep in a tent anymore. I don't have to starve. I was eight  months pregnant, living in a tent. That's embarrassing! I was walking around here, pregnant, and people were looking at me like, 'What are you doing on the street?' and knowing that I was a drug addict. It makes me feel good to know that people don't have to look at me like that. Now, they're looking at me and knowing that I'm out here doing what I have to do for my baby and for myself, so I can live a real life. I'm not sleeping on the fucking concrete and begging people for cigarettes and change. It's crazy to see how much my life has changed since I gave all of that away. I don't have to carry all that pain and trauma anymore. I don't have to die, today. 

Keep it real simple. Do what you gotta do and keep it simple. Stop trying to complicate shit and take yourself out of it. Stop running off of emotion and do what's right." - Kayla, California

“This is our neighborhood. The West End is really not bad, it just has a few bad people. At the same time, we try to teach some of them if we catch them in time. That’s the biggest problem we have, which is trying to catch them in time. I’m serious, it’s a lot of intelligent young people out here but they make the wrong turn. What we’re trying to do is make them take the other turn because they got a life to live. It’s better than looking over your shoulder all the time. That ain’t a way to live. You want to be able to raise your family with no problems. That’s the life that I’m trying to live for the young people. You know, I’m 63 and I done lived a pretty good one. I wanna see some of them grow up. It’s quite a few of people that come, shake my hand, and tell me that they’re doing good. That makes me feel good.

If you want to be loved, you got to share love. If you want to have a friend, be a friend. Just because somebody is struggling, it doesn’t mean you should turn your back on them. You can always help them and it’s not going to cost you nothing. Always spread some kind of positive knowledge. It’s up to them if they use it. If you hear negative, don’t even respond to it. Just walk away from it.” - Kenny, Shawnee

“If I had a superpower, it would be wisdom because we can gain a whole lot of knowledge and not know what to do with it. We can be blessed with a whole lot of things and not know what to do with it. We make decisions and I feel like if we gain the knowledge and put it into use and make the right choices, then it becomes wisdom. There’s also wisdom that you can find through mistakes. So even when I make mistakes, I want my superpower to kick in and let me learn something.

We need more unity in the West End. I remember growing up and being able to borrow a cup of sugar or an egg and I wouldn’t be talked about so bad. It wouldn’t be ‘Ah, you make all this money and you can’t get an egg?’. When it’s really me not being able to make it to the store and just needing an egg. I remember our neighbors used to spank us and tell our mom and then we got a spankin’ because the neighbor had to spank us. You know, all the children got along and would play street football. It was a whole lot of community help. We just saw and helped. We didn’t have to ask somebody if they needed help. We just saw and did it. We need more of that.

I tell my kids, all the time, it don’t matter if you come from the hood, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be intelligent. By the way, I got ten kids and I’m on my way to get my masters’ degree. We get looked upon as a poor and unintelligent community. The West End is where people want to be. Why do you think you got people, from outside the community, opening up convenient stores? Because this is where the money’s at.” - Gloria pictured with her children Dadrianae, Solomon, Victorious, and Jaedan

"Everyone should have kindness and always be nice. People should stop arguing and always have fun." - Solomon (Center)

"Be selfless. We need more selfless people in the world. There's a lot of people out here that need help, someone to talk to, a hug, or whatever. That's my advice to the world." - Candy (far right) pictured Te Te & Angel, Russell

"So, I have really mixed feelings about the Passport move. What kind of community is so deprived that we're waiting on Wal-Mart? What has happened, systematically, with policy makers, legislators, business people, private and public sector that has left us so devastated that we're literally waiting on Wal-Mart like we're waiting on Superman. When that doesn't work out, we're devastated, as a community. There was the veterans hospital that could have been on this site, that would have brought hotels, commerce, and additional industry. There was the Yum Center that could have been built west of 9th St., along Main St. That could have brought jobs and industries and wouldn't have created congestion in the current existing urban area. There was the convention center that the mayor is re-doing, that could have been torn down and a green space created, with the convention center being built west of 9th St., that could have created jobs, industries, and commerce. This doesn't make me happy. I have mixed thoughts about Passport's placement. When doing this work on the inside, I often try to penetrate this space.

The one thing that makes me happy about this site is that we have Sweet Peaches. The owner, Pam, will have her catering inside of here. It's a small win. I'm not going to penetrate the deepness that is necessary for the West End, but it's potential. I hate to see this space vacant but I think that the policy makers and the people spitting assistance to the people of this community should be held accountable. With the historical deprivation of the whole entire community, they should be held accountable for that, as well.

I'm waiting for more to happen than something that is small and minute as the opening of Passport. We should really be celebrating massive industry and movement coming into the community and not in a way that gentrifies the community and moves African Americans out but in a way that collectively goes in line with the community values. You go to Harlem, you see the Apollo studio, you see Magic Johnson's theater. So, there's ways to bring in commerce and not in a way that gentrify and disperse people. We have to pay attention to that. We have to pay attention to the Russell transformation and Beecher Terrace coming down. Those private businesses are already chomping at the bit to get that land and transform it just like they transformed Clarksdale into NuLu. 

We need young folks that aren't sitting back and waiting on Superman and waiting on Wal-Mart. We need them to be independent entrepreneurs, that are building their websites and blogs, strategizing, establishing relationships and collaborating. How do we get folks that are strategizing and doing real heavy work in the community to get in contact with potential funding sources and stakeholders that can help bolster their work, instead of waiting on other folks from other communities to make decisions and to build our community up.

My advice to the world is to undo racism and white supremacy. Pay reparations to the folks who have been harmed for a thousand years and create equity and equality among black and brown people and watch the world get better." - Shelton, California

“I was born and raised in Parkland. The daycare next door is actually the first daycare I went to. My mother’s first apartment is around the corner on Olive St. My grandmother still lives on the other side of Olive, so I was raised down here. About four or five years ago, I was in real estate, trying to find some properties to flip. A young man, who was property manager at the time, of all of these complexes, actually came and told me that he didn’t have any properties for me but the community needed a laundromat. I didn’t know nothing about laundromat. At the time, with funding, it was very expensive for a laundromat. With the out builds and the machines, it’s about $500K. So, at the time, I couldn’t do it. 

Unfortunately, in December 2014, my mother passed away in a tragic accident. Metro didn’t see her crossing the street and hit my mother. She survived that for about 10-15 days and had eight surgeries. Of course the city had to pay. That was the second person they killed in three years but you know, God is still blessing us. Funds came and then the laundromat. April 10th will be our actual one year anniversary. We’re striving and trying to do better. I was born and raised here, so I’m doing what I can while I can. 

For years, my dream was for 18th St. to become like Bardstown Rd. I wanna see businesses after businesses, that’s a huge dream. I actually did a background check on Parkland. There used to be a bunch of businesses but the 1960s riot tore it up. The West End is different from the east and the south. We got a lot of poverty. I would love to see it back to where it was. The houses are beautiful. I love the houses. If I can transform Parkland into what I’d love to see everyday, I would do it. I’m interested in buying that lot across the street and put a miniature park there. We need a library, with 25,000 square feet, there’s plenty of room for a library. We also need a senior center and an actual center for the kids. In this neighborhood, there’s only four daycares. There’s a lot of kids in the neighborhood. We see around 100-200 kids a day, in the neighborhood and they have nothing to do. We’re constantly putting kids out of here, because you can’t hang out in the laundromat and they’re looking for something to do. They need somewhere where they can be constructive and do some good within the community. We’ll get all of that going, you know? We’re gonna have some financial issues, but I know investors that want to give back.

The kids inspire me. I was the youth minister for about four or five years at West End Baptist and at other churches. I’ve always been a kid person. I see kids around here and they need more. We’re not providing anything for them in Parkland and it’s a huge neighborhood. We have a lot of kids and there’s nothing for them to do. When you have nothing to do, you find something to do. Unfortunately, we had two killings here in the last year, one here in the alley, behind me and the other was a kid who was dumped out here. That kid was a teenager and the man from the alley was about 24 or 25. My wife actually saw the body. We need to do something. We have a lot of activity going on and we need to make sure that the kids are safe. They can’t be safe if they have nothing to do. 

My advice to anyone wanting to start a business is to take your time. A lot of people want to start a business and will not take their time. Starting a business is not easy, especially a store front. You have to realize that you will have expenses. The overhead will destroy a business. We made sure that the overhead is steady. There’s plenty places that will help you start your business. The Nia Center will help you get your business plan together. Everyday, you have to do something. Take your time and don’t rush it. 

The West End needs something to be done with these abandoned houses. We have a real drug problem and if you get rid of these abandoned houses, people wouldn’t have anywhere to hang out. Either tear these houses down or sell them off for a dollar. Again, there has to be something for the kids to do. If the kids wanted to do something, they have to go to the east or the south sides. They need a center, a movie theater, skating rink, something constructive. The West End is a desert. We need more sit down restaurants, and more than two Kroger stores. When you drive in the West End, all you see is liquor stores, churches and fast food spots. It needs more structure for economic development. There needs to be more giving to the community, so people can be proud of their community. We need to be people to invest in the West End and not be scared.” - Damon, Owner of Parkland Laundromat in Parkland

“The happiest moment of my life is when my grandmother took me in and raised me as her own. I was 6 months old. I know I was a baby but she took good care of me. My mom died when I was 6 months old. My grandmother raised me to be a lady and to treat others with respect. She taught me wisdom, maturity, and how to walk with a good head on my shoulders. 

My advice to the world is to just be yourself and don’t forget to always fight for your dreams.” - Kaylan, Russell

“Everyone needs to realize that it’s more than these buildings that make up the Park Hill neighborhood. It’s bigger than what people think. Bad things happen but overall, it ain’t a bad neighborhood. That’s just how they portray it. What projects or housing authorities don’t have a lot of crime? There’s always going to be more crime here than anywhere else.” - Residents, Park Hill

“Go to church and get some love in your heart. If I could change some things in the world, I’d make sure that everybody gets an education and everybody’s fed.

The happiest moment in my life is when my son was born, which was in 1976. I was 24 years old. Before I had my son I was detrimental to myself. I went to the service and got kicked out. I dropped out of school. I did a whole lot of things. Now, since I had him,  I’ve been in church and changed my way of thinking and how I speak. I try not to curse but it slips out every now and then.

When I get up and keep on moving and share what I know to others that don’t know, I get inspired. You know, cause I’m 64 and I’ve been through a lot. I see these guys come out here and got a lot of meanness in them. I can’t say it’s hatred but they don’t know about love. If they go to church, they’ll get that love, cause church members share love and try to guide you. You gotta listen. An old man told me that if you listen, you’ll learn something.” - Maurice, Russell

“Don’t look down on a person. Don’t judge a book by its cover because looks are deceiving. You never know who you are running into. If you can’t help a person, don’t talk about them.” - Debra, Russell

Jamal & PJ, Shawnee

"They call me Harley. I've been dressing like this since I was kid. I ain't had a drink in 30 years and I don't do dope no more, I've straightened up. I just get on my Harley and take off when it’s warm.

I lost my brother from cancer in 2010. My brother was my biggest influence and my best friend. I lost my older sister and my nephew to cancer, too. My dad committed suicide on July 2nd, 1992. He hung himself. I’m the only one left." - Harley, Portland

“I grew up around here, across the street. I grew up in that building, right there. If they tear it down, they ain’t doing nothing but moving a different group in and then they’ll move a different group throughout the rest of the West End. It’s a good thing for the city but is it a good thing for us people?

I’m gonna miss it. I grew up down here. Everybody’s gone. Everybody I’ve been knowing for forty something years was over here. I’m gonna miss hooking up with all the people. Everybody would get together on July 4th and Thunder over Louisville and hang out at the park. It’ll be people that you haven’t seen in years but everybody from Beecher Terrace and Village West would get down here and hook up. I’m gonna miss all of those days.” - Dro, Russell

"Stick to your process." - Roc, Parkland

“It’s a bunch of kids out here and just the other day, there was a shooting. With so many kids around, it’s like nobody knows how to fight anymore. People will be shooting with the kids around. It was night time when my sister-in-law pulled up with my daughter and I heard ten shots from about two houses down. It was too close.

We need better communication. It feels like everybody is letting everything fall apart. It’s way different from when I was little. Plus, they’re tearing down our houses over here. Instead of fixing them up, they’re tearing them down. They just tore down three houses and there’s houses on Bank St. that’s boarded up. They’re just taking homes away and nobody’s going to stop and say anything about it. It just feels like nobody cares anymore.

We also need people to come together. We can’t even have nothing over here, no more. There used to be little block parties and people would have their families over here. They used to have something at Jewel Park but they don’t do that anymore. People are afraid to go to Shawnee Park after all the shootings. My dad was one of the victims that got shot on Thanksgiving. My dad hasn’t been to Shawnee Park since. He won’t even go near the park. He’s moving out of the West End once he gets married. It’s just different from when I was younger but people don’t want it to be that way. Once it gets dark, I’m not outside.” - Renee, Shawnee

“Everything’s bad, man. I’m having a hard time and I’m homeless and going through a time, right now. It’s rough. I’m having to bum to get some change so I can get me something to eat.

I’ve lived in the West End all my life. I’ve seen Portland change from solid white to solid black. When it was solid white, you couldn’t dare go to Portland. We couldn’t cross Market Street and they couldn’t cross Jefferson Street. It was a conflict. Now, Portland is mixed up and matches the other areas. I grew up around 38th and 39th on the other side of Market. 

We need a shopping mall, more jobs, and a little more attention for the homeless.” - Bryant, Russell